Akhannouch Sparks Backlash, Says Moroccans Should ‘Thank God’ for Tomatoes in Response to Economic Woes

Rabat – On Tuesday, during a monthly questioning session at the House of Councillors, Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch sparked immense controversy with remarks urging Moroccans to appreciate the availability of basic goods despite economic challenges.

Addressing the effects of a prolonged drought, he noted that food remains within reach, using tomato prices as an example.

“We need to thank God that tomatoes are still available after seven years of drought,” he said.

“In Inzegane, they sell for MAD 2.5 to MAD 4, while here, prices range from MAD 4 to MAD 7. When it gets warmer, they will cost even less.”

His tone-deaf comments have sparked widespread outrage among Moroccans who are already battling to make ends meet due to relentless inflation.

Most Moroccans took to social media to denounce his comments. One commenter on Instagram said, “Thank God, fellow Moroccans, that oxygen is still free despite 7 years of drought.”

With Ramadan around the corner, trepidation mounts as prices of staples, especially tomatoes, meat, and dairy products, are expected to spike even further.

Another netizen pointed to this, saying “The Morocco that we live in, we buy tomatoes for MAD 8 or MAD 10.”

This brings to mind the utterance Akhannouch made when, in 2019, he was minister of agriculture. At the opening of the National Apple Fair in Midelt, the politician jokingly said that apple prices were “too low,” while jesting with the governor of the province.

Observers who listened to his “joke” then concluded that he is taking Moroccans for granted and that it’s disrespectful given people’s purchasing power is already at an all-time low.

At the time, many saw his comment as dismissive of the struggles Moroccans face, with critics calling it “disrespectful,” given the already fragile purchasing power of many households.

This also echoes the 2018 boycott campaign, when Moroccans united online to shun products from companies owned by individuals close to the political elite – among them Akhannouch’s Afriquia Gaz.

The boycott targeted not only them but was a broader protest against the high cost of living driven by increases in the prices of staple foods and services.

Economic woes? Pray, God will do the rest

Beyond financial policies, Akhannouch insisted that Moroccans should recognize the difficulty in maintaining agriculture under severe drought conditions.

“Some act as if this is a political issue, but agriculture cannot function without water,” he said.

“Those who want to lie to Moroccans should instead pray to God for rain.”

Akhannouch’s attempt to shift the blame to a lack of rain is perceived by Moroccans as tone-deaf to those who see government policies as insufficient to address deep-rooted economic problems.

His words seem to disregard the fact that many in the country are asking for concrete solutions, not religious platitudes.

In terms of meat shortages, he acknowledged that the country’s livestock breeding is strained, but recent snowy weather won’t alleviate that shortage. “We need to be honest. A national herd cannot grow in these conditions,” he said.

Yet again, his appeal for transparency sounds hollow when the government’s long-term vision for agriculture remains uncertain. With few immediate solutions in sight, Moroccans are left wondering how much longer they can bear these crises.

At the same session, Akhannouch called on Moroccans to look at the big picture, reminding them of ongoing reforms and efforts towards building what he termed “Tomorrow’s Morocco.” He warned against selective memory of negative things about the Moroccan government, saying, “Let’s not just remember what we want.”

In January, Minister of Agriculture, Ahmed Bouari, also made some comments that drove many Moroccans to the edge of their seats.

He made headlines, attributing declining fish populations to drought conditions, suggesting that rainfall scarcity causes fish to flee. Moroccan observers felt that this explanation lacked solid grounds for the exorbitant seafood prices found in local markets.

Whether Akhannouch’s government’s policies will ease economic conditions in the long run remains an open question, but many Moroccans are uniting in feeling the financial strain as the consumer needs ramping up to Ramadan take their toll.